Obi-Wan Kenobi: Season 1

   

Based on: Star Wars by George Lucas

Directed by: Deborah Chow

Executive producers: Deborah Chow, Ewan McGregor, Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Joby Harold

Starring: Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan), Moses Ingram (Reva), Vivien Lyra Blair (Leia)

There had a been rumors about Obi-Wan getting his own movie or standalone project for some time. So you could say I was pretty excited about this! 

I understand the series got mixed-to-positive reviews as it aired for somewhat overstuffed story and how well (or not well) Reva was written, those aren't sentiments I shared. I understand it to an extent; Reva did feel a little bit forced and this plotline didn't necessarily need to extend across six hours. 

But personally, I thought the series was great. I'll be the first to admit that I'm pretty biased with this: I love Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan. He's my favorite part of the prequels, the Clone Wars animated series, and just Star Wars as a whole. I'll take pretty much any opportunity to see more of him, especially in live action, and for me, the story does admittedly take second place. I'm not proud of that fact, but it's true 😅 

Obi-Wan living in hiding on Tatooine

But even with that bias, I thought the series was fantastic. The plot kept my attention fully from the first to the sixth episode. Reva's character greatly intrigued me. I was fascinated by her character when it was first introduced and I only became more so as we learned her background and motivation. The area that I'll agree got blurry was in the finale when she went after young Luke. I don't really understand how she knew where or who Luke was, or what made her go after him. But that didn't come to fruition anyway; she was effectively deterred by Own and Beru (Joel Edgerton & Bonnie Piesse), Luke's guardians on Tatooine. 

I thought the series has many more strengths, too. It was an incredible treat to see young Leia. Vivien portrayed her incredibly well and it was so evident how she grew up to be Carrie Fisher's character who we all know and love. Leia definitely helped float the series, her cute, rascally, rebellious Leia was lovable (if a little annoying at times), but then turned around to dispense wisdom for every character she encountered--especially Obi-Wan himself. Seeing her young life and her relationship with Bail and Breha Organa (Jimmy Smits & Simone Kessell), her adoptive parents, was so rewarding and beautiful and made their deaths in the originals that much harder. 

Bail & Breha on Alderaan 

Bail & Leia together at the beginning 

Obi-Wan and Leia attempting to escape an Empire-aligned planet together

I also thought Reva was a great character. Her ferocity and ambition was very compelling. I thought it was ingenious how she drew Obi-Wan out in the beginning with Wanted posters and how she used her search for Obi-Wan as a means to get close to Anakin. Her background was tragic and compelling and Moses Ingram portrayed it so well. 

Reva attempting to track down Obi-Wan on Tatooine

Finally, the most rewarding thing of all was every interaction Obi-Wan had with Darth Vader. The intense emotions that came to the surface, Vader's ruthlessness at each encounter with Obi-Wan (or anyone, for that matter), the heartbreak in Obi-Wan's eyes every time he thought of or encountered Vader was just so perfect and worth it. And the final battle absolutely made the entire season worth it. 

Obi-Wan and Vader's awesome final showdown

I'm really torn as far as wanting a second season because I do. I so want to see more of this Obi-Wan and this Darth Vader and I want to see them interact more! Or heck, I'd settle for more of just Obi-Wan. Vader isn't needed. 

But the difficult part is--is there really anymore story? I honestly don't think so. Both Vader and Obi-Wan are pretty much where they need to be. And for the originals to make sense, they both need to rest for a decade or two in their roles. They need to become gray and hardened by the monotony. 

We don't have a renewal status yet, but I'm pretty sure the writers at Disney are feeling the same thing. They want to write more, but it's difficult to justify.